September 19, troops of EOD Division of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-11) neutralized an improvised explosive device in the provincial capital Chaghcharan where the PRT camp is based.
The IED was hidden in a sluice of a busy road. Hazardous finding was tracked down and reported to peacekeepers by locals.
PRT-11 deminers identified the found object as IED on site. The territory being densely populated, it was decided to evacuate as many locals from the dangerous area as possible and neutralize the explosive on site.
„We paid major attention to improvised explosive devices widely used in Afghanistan, their schemes, detection, and identification, and shared experience of deminers of previous PRTs in pre-deployment training course," said Commander PRT-11 Capt Darius Mineika.
According to Capt D. Mineika, the most difficult task was to fence off enough area to secure curious locals during the operation of neutralisation.
According to data of Afghanistan's National Security and PRT reconnaissance, the detected IED was not arranged for troops of Afghan National Security Forces or ISAF, a part of which Lithuanian-led PRT is. The occurrence is associated to a conflict between two candidates seeking seats in the Lower House of the Parliament of Afghanistan.
It has been the fourth IED reported by locals of Ghor or ANP officers and neutralized by PRT-11 during its duty period. Members of PRT also often teach in provincial schools local children conduct in finding unexploded ammunition or other explosive devices.
The Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian-military mission, a part of NATO's ISAF, that was launched in Ghor in summer of 2005. The main task of the mission is to help Government of Afghanistan to extend authority in the province, ensure security and create environment for provincial reconstruction. Prerequisites for the allied forces deployed in Afghanistan to finish the mission will be provided as soon as the country's National Security Forces are able to ensure security of the country and its people independently. In the present period major attention is paid to the projects of training and preparation of Afghan National Security Forces in the framework of the new NATO ISAF strategy in Afghanistan.
Ghor, located in the central part of Afghanistan, is one of the safest provinces because of its geographical position and underdeveloped infrastructure. However, security situation in Ghor is described as relatively safe. Insurgent movement is sometimes spotted there as Ghor has borders with southern provinces guarded by additional huge deployment of allied forces since the beginning of 2010. As the Lithuanian-led PRT of Ghor increases its attention to training Afghan National Security Forces, establishment of Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POMLT) is planned in Ghor by the end of the year.
At the moment the 11th rotation of the Lithuanian-led PRT serve in Afghanistan, the shift is based on the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion located in Tauragės Distr. Kęstutis Battalion provides personnel for the PRT mission for a second time. The majority of personnel in the shift have been deployed to multinational missions in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan previously.
Representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland and Ukraine serve together with Lithuanian military and civilian personnel in Ghor PRT camp in Chaghcharan.
PIO for PRT-11 Capt Darius Toleikis
